Machine for twisting grass for fuel



(No Model.)

G A. PARKER.

MACHINE FOR TWISTING GRASS FOR FUEL.

Patented Feb. 20, 1883.

INVENTOR I %l. ATTORNEYS WITNESSES Mfi N, PETERS. Pholo LilhOgnphenwashmgun. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. PARKER, OF MARLBOROUGH, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

MACHINE FOR TWISTING GRASS FOR FUEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 272,757, dated February20, 1883. Application filed April 8, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. PARKER, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Marlborough, in the county of Cheshire and State ofNew Hampshire, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Machinesfor Twisting Grass for Fuel; and 1 do hereby declare thatthefollowiugisafull, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation ofthe same, reference being bad to the annexed drawings, making a part ofthis specification, and to the letters andfigures of reference markedthereon.

Figure l of the drawings is a side view of my grass-twister. Fig. 2 is atop or plan view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a detail view.

This invention has relation to machines for twisting prairie-grass forfuel and it consists in theconstruction and novel arrangement of parts,as will be hereinafter fully described and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates a table orelongated frame, having supporting-legs B, which are preferably hingedthereto for convenience in folding.

At one end of the frame is an abutment, 0, having bearings for thejoui'nal shaf'ts a of the pinions D, which are arranged side by side andengage the teeth of a large drivingwheel, E, which is mounted on abearing be low, or is provided with a journal seated in hearings on theframe. This main wheel E is designed to be turned by hand; or a tre'adleattachment may be easily arranged so that it can be turned by the actionof the foot.

The journal-shafts a of the pinions are provided with terminal hooks I).

Near the opposite end of the frame is located an adjustable head orabutment, F, having extending through it an opening or bearing, 0, beingin outline of D-shaped form. This abutment F, being secured to thehorizontal board G and the side braces, may be rendered adjustable bymeans of a longitudinal slot in the table A, and in connection therewitha clamping-screw; or any other equivalent adjusting devices may beemployed to enable the head F to be moved nearer to or farther from thehead 0, according to the length of twistrequired.

Through the D-shaped bearing 0 extends a sliding shank, d, having at itsend a hook or catch, 0. The shank d of the hook or catch 0 is of similarforin in cross-section to the hearing 0, fitting said bearing easily,but being designed not to turn therein except at onepoint in rear, wherethe shank is made cylindrical or in the form of ajournal, as at g.

To the rear end of the hook or catch 0 is pivoted a swivel-connection,h, to which is attached a cord, k, which extends over a pulley orbearing, 1, and carries at its end the retracting-weight W.

The operation of this twisting-machine is as follows The grass arrangedin a long Wisp is fastened by one end to one of the pinionhooks, carriedaround the hook c, and then attached by its other end to the otherpinionhook. The book or catch being retracted in its bearing, thedrive-wheel is turned, rotating the pinions and their hooks until thegrass is well twisted,and shortens, drawing the hook or catch throughits bearing; When the journal portion of the hook or catch reaches thebearing in the head, it allows the hook or catch to turn freely, and thetwo twisted strands will at once automatically intertwiue by twisting inthe opposite direction from that in whichthey have been separatelytwisted by the pinion-hooks. In this manner a single twisted bundle isformed which will retain its twisted form when detached from the booksof the machine. The retracting-weight will then draw the hook or catchback into position for the attachment of another wisp of 8 grass.

Having described this invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s-

1. The hay or grass twister, substantially as described, provided withthe hook or catch 0, having a D-shaped shank, and a journal portion nearits rear end, adapted to operate substantially as and for the purposesspecified.

2. A hay or grass twister having at one end the twisting-hooks b, anabutment, O, in which the hooks b are journaled, and at the other end anadjustable abutment, F, having a D-shaped bearing, a, therein, the hookor catch 6, its journal g, swivel-connection h, cord 7c, andretracting-weight W, substantially as specified.

3. The board G, abutment F, hook or catch e, swivel h, cord k, andretracting-weight W, all combined and adapted to operate in connectionwiththe table A and clamping-screw, substantially as specified.

In testimony that; I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence 10 of two witnesses.

GEORGE A. PARKER.

\Vitnesses:

ELIJAH BOYDEN, WM. M. NASON.

